Toy device



Spt. 19, 1961 F. P. TAGLIAFERRI TOY DEVICE s-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2'7, 1959 FRANK I? MGLIAFERRI INVENTOR.

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TOY DEVICE Filed Aug. 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANK R TAGL/AFERR/ INVENTOR.

Maui/v -ZZW/U TTORNEY United States Patent Filed Aug. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 836,545 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-244) This invention relates generally to toy devices, and more particularly it pertains to a novel construction of a flying saucer for use as an amusement device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel toy device in the form of a simulated flying saucer.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a flying saucer which is electrically operated and which can be arranged to move between a pair of spaced points.

And still another object of this invention to provide an amusement device in the form of a flying saucer which is easy to operate.

And other objects of this invention are to provide a flying saucer which is economical to manufacture, which is easy to install and maintain, and which is eflicient and reliable in operational use.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a flying saucer toy device in which there is an arrangement for destroying a target to simulate an explosion.

To provide a flying saucer device which incorporates means for first moving it in one direction and then in the opposite direction to destroy targets on opposite sides thereof, is still another object of this invention.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following accompanying specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flying saucer showing the use thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with parts removed, of the flying saucer incorporating features of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of a portion of the components of the flying saucer;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a target; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic of an electrical circuit diagram.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown generally a toy device in the form of a novel flying saucer 10. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the flying saucer has an inverted dish-shaped upper pan assembly 12. The pan assembly 12 is provided with a large circular aperture 14 diametrically across which is mounted a flanged chassis 16.

A drive unit 18 consisting of a gear train case and motor support 20 is secured by rivets 22 to the flanged sides of the chassis 16. A reversible motor 24 is arranged, by means of a train of gears 26 and 32, to rotate a vertical drive shaft 28 which projects above and below the chassis 16. The upper end of shaft 28 is provided with a capstan 30 and the lower end is formed with threads 34.

A pair of flashlight cells 40 positioned in battery clips 38 are hung in a saddle 36 secured on one end of the chassis 16. A light socket 74 depends on a bracket 76 from each side of the motor support 20 to provide for a pair of light bulbs 78.

The other end of the chassis 16 is utilized to mount a double pole, double throw center oif switch 42 on a hanger 44. Switch 42 is provided with a vertical switch shaft 46, which has a bent-over horizontal actuator 48 at one end thereof.

A tube 50 is fastened lengthwise on the chassis 16, and it projects from opposite sides of the upper pan assembly 12 and contains a slidable trigger rod 52. The forward end of this rod 52 is provided with a sharp point 54. A slot 56 is provided in the side of tube 50 adjacent to the switch 42 whose actuator 48 protrudes there- Patented Sept. 19., 1961 ice 2 through into a smaller elongated hole 58 provided in the side of trigger rod 52.

A pair of rivets 62 are used to secure a detent leaf spring 60 to the chassis 16, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Spring 16 is formed with a deformed portion 64 which engages the horizontal actuator 48 of switch shaft 46, thereby restraining the switch 42 from moving into the Forward position.

The switch 42 may be secured in the center Off position by means of a lock pin 66 inserted through the sides of tube 50 and rod 52. A captivating chain 68 is used to prevent loss of this pin 66 when it is disengaged from the tube 50 and rod 52.

A hook type fairlead 70 is secured near each side on the top of the upper pan assembly 12 in line with the protruding ends of tube 50 to support the flying saucer 10. A line 72 when reeved through one fairlead 70, passed once 'around the capstan 30 and out the other fairlead 70 can thus support the flying saucer 10, and, at the same time, it can be propelled along the line 72 with the ends of tube 50 pointing forward and rearward as simulated guns.

To further the illusion of a flying saucer 10, there is provided a flanged, inverted dish-shaped lid which is secured by means of a hinge 82 to the flying saurce 10. A latch 86 is used to secure the lid 80 of the flying saucer 10 to a flange 88 provided around aperture 14.

A pair of notches 84 are cut into the lid 80 to clear the line 72 when the lid is latched down to the upper pan assembly 12. A raised deformation adjacent the latch 86 forms a finger pull 90 to facilitate unlatching of the lid 80 from the upper flange assembly 12.

A rotating lower pan 92 is secured by a thumbnut 96 to the threaded end of drive shaft 28 which is passed through a center aperture 94. A plurality of spaced colored ports 98 are arranged around the peripheral wall of the pan 92 to transmit light from light bulbs 78 outside of the flying saucer 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the three positions Forward, Off, and Reverse of switch 42 are translated by the positions of the trigger rod 52 working through actuator 48. It also can be noted in FIG. 3 that a forward movement of the rod 52 will cause the actuator 48 to climb over the deformed portion 64 of spring 60 where it remains cocked in Forward. I

The electric wiring diagram as shown in FIG. 5 is a conventional reversing switch technique, and the light bulbs 78 are connected to be lighted only when the motor 24 is energized either in Forward or Reverse.

In use, the novel flying saucer 10 is rigged with its support line 72 stretched between two spaced supports S, as shown in FIG. 1. A target disk 100 is held to the line 72 near each of its ends. The target disk 100, as shown in detail in FIG. 4, is provided with a horizontal tab 102, which, in turn, has a pair of slots 104 for securing the line 72 therethrough without knotting thereof. The edge of disk 100 has a long slot 106 which extends radially to its center and a short slot 108 about half as long. An inflated balloon representing a simulated enemy or target T may be secured to the disk 100. The twisted neck of the balloon T is easily stretched through the slot 106 which centers it and through slot 108 which retains the neck end thereof.

With the trigger rod 52 cocked in Forward, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the motor 24 rotates the capstan 30, through the gear train 26 and 32 and the shaft 28, and the lower pan 92. Rays of colored light from the bulbs 78 flash from the ports 98 and the flying saucer 10 travels along the line 72 toward target T. Upon contact of the end of the rod 52 with the target T, the point 54 destroys the balloon enemy or target T and then contacts the disk 100. This action through rod 52 3 dislodges the cocked actuator 48 over the detent or deformed portion 64 and throws the switch through the OE position and into Reverse.

The reversed motor 24 and capstan 30 now back the flyingsaucerlO away from the destroyed target T until the unpointed end of trigger rod 52 contacts the other or Homel target disk 100 whereupon the switch actuator 48 is pushed to its central or 011 position, stopping the motor 24 and turning off the lights 78.

\Vhile there has been described and illustrated a preferred form of the invention, it is apparent that certain variations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, limitation of the invention is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A flying saucer toy device, comprising, upper and lower dish-shaped members arranged face-to-face but spaced from each other, a chassis in said upper dishshaped member and having its ends connected thereto, means including a vertically arranged driven element having one end fixedly secured to said lower dish-shaped member so as to rotate therewith, said driven element being supported by said chassis and having its other 2. A flying saucer toy device, comprising, upper and lower dish-shaped members arranged face-to-face but spaced from each other, said upper member having an annular flange defining an opening therein, an inverted dished-shaped lid having an annular flange hinged to said annular flange of said upper dish-shaped member for closing said opening therein, a chassis spanning said opening in said upper dish-shaped member and having its ends connected to the annular flange thereof, means including a vertically arranged driven element having one end f xedly secured to said lower dish-shaped member so as to rotate therewith, said driven element being supported by said chassis and having its other end extending upwardly through said opening in said upper dish-shaped member, a capstan at the upper end of said driven element spaced from said lid when said lid closes said opening in said upper dish-shaped member and arranged so that aline positioned between two vertically spaced members passes at least once around said capstan, diametrically spaced hook fairleads on opposite sides of said annular flange of said upper dish-shaped member for receiving said line connected between said vertically spaced members and passed around said capstan, a tube fastenedto said chassis and arranged in alignment with said line and extending from opposite sides of said upper dish-shaped member, a slidable rod positioned in said tube and extending from opposite ends thereof, reversible motormeans mounted in said chassis and coupled to said driven element to rotate said driven element, and an tending from opposite sides of said upper dish-shaped member, a slidable rod positioned in said tube and extending from opposite ends thereof, reversible motor means mounted in said chassis and coupled to said driven element to rotate said driven element, an electrical circuit including switch means for controlling the direction of operation of said reversible motor means, said switch means being connected to said slidable rod and actuated in opposite directions by the opposite ends of said rod striking'spaced objects positioned on said line in alignment with said rod and said lower dish-shaped member having a plurality of spaced windows formed in its peripheral surface, and light means in said electrical circuit for projecting light through said windows while said lower dish-shaped member is rotating, whereby said flyelectrical circuit including switch means for controlling the direction of operation of said reversible motor means, said switchmeans being, connected to said slidable rod and ,actuatedin opposite directions by the opposite ends of said rod striking spaced objects positioned on said line in alignment with said rod and on opposite sides of said device, said lower dish-shaped member having a plurality of spaced windows formed in its peripheral surface, and .light means in said electrical circuit for projecting light through said windows while said lower dish-shaped ingsaucer device can be used to simulate an actual flying member is rotating, whereby said flying saucer device can be used'to simulate a flying saucer.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Valdsness Feb. 10, 1914 1,126,608 Woodrutf Jan. 26, 1915 1,873,196 Harris et a1. Aug. 23, 1932 2,179,913 Bess Nov. 14, 1939 2,481,686 Roggenstein Sept. 13, 1949 

